“Coffee?” alok ni Jasmine kay Charlie na noon ay sapo-sapo pa rin ang nananakit na ulo. Last night she had one too many drinks while pouring her heart out to Jasmine. The brandy did its magic last night—make her talk and knock her off to sleep. ‘Yon nga lang, hindi siya sa bahay niya nakatulog. Natulog siya sa bahay nina Jasmine at Gray dahil sa sobrang kalasingan. “Thank you,” paos ang tinig na sabi niya matapos salinan ni Jasmine ng kape ang mug na nakasilbi sa harap niya. She took a sip of the hot beverage, wishing that it will take away all the effects of her stupidity last night. It was ten minutes past nine in the morning but she’s still there, in someone else’s home looking like a shit. Ngayon siya nagsisisisi kung bakit uminom-inom pa siya kagabi. Napakarami niyang dapat gawin sa opisina. Idagdag pa ang muli niya sanang pakikipag-usap kay Mr. Jones. Heck! It’s not even yet the weekend but she got wasted! What was she thinking? She silently cursed herself. What’s happening

Marahang dinala ni Gael ang baso ng alak sa kanyang bibig. Malalim na ang gabi subalit hindi pa rin siya makatulog o mas tamang sabihin na may gumugulo sa kanyang pagtulog. A woman. A woman's face to be specific. The face of Charlize Sandejas. Ibinaba niya ang baso niya sa bar counter at muling nagsalin ng alak doon. There's something in her that was haunting him-- a heavy feeling he cannot shake off of his chest since she met her accidentally yesterday. Was it her beautiful caramel eyes that mirrored the quick changes in her emotions-- from fear to defiance, from confusion to anger? Was it her wit in their verbal battle? Or was it that something else in her that he still doesn't know of?He scoffed and down the glass of drink in his hand. The woman was really something. But he must not be fazed. Si Charlize ang puno't dulo ng lahat. May kasalanan ito at ang pamilya niya sa kanya. At naroon siya para maningil.Limang taon niyang pinaghandaan ang muling pagkikita nila ng dating asa

Gigil na nagmartsa pabalik ng kotse niya si Charlie. Hindi na niya alintana kung pinagtitinginan siya ng mga tao na nakakakita sa kanya dahil sa malakas na paglagatok ng heels niya sa lobby ng building. She’s so pissed she doesn’t care a bit what other people think. Paano, ni hindi siya hinarap man lang ni Mr. Reyes, ang may-ari ng New Edge Bank. Sinabihan lang siya ng secretary nito na aalis na ang amo nito at bumalik na lang siya sa susunod na linggo dahil may pupuntahan itong private meeting kanina lang lampas alas-kwatro na ng hapon!Inaksaya lang nito ang buong maghapon niya when she’s supposed to be out there, negotiating with other banks that could help them solve their problem!She huffed and walked over to her waiting car. Si Jacob ang nagbukas ng pinto para sa kanya. Habang papasok siya sa sasakyan, narinig niyang tumunog ang cellphone niya. She threw her handbag in the backseat and caught her head between her hands. She doesn’t need to look at her phone to know who was cal

Panay ang marahang pagdampi ni Charlie ng cold compress sa ulo niya. She’s now inside Room 324, the room she booked. Doon siya dumiretso kanina habang kinakausap ng management ng hotel sina Mr. and Mrs. De Vera, including Gael, dahil sa gulong nangyari. She had minor cuts on her face and her head still hurts like hell. But aside from that, she was fine. The doctor the hotel management called made sure of that. Well, her ego was a little hurt for what seemed like an initially brilliant plan she had turned out to be not brilliant at all. Muli niyang idinampi ang cold compress sa ulo niya at pinakatitigan ang mukha niya sa salamin. She can’t help but curse under her breath. She cannot go home like that. She looks like shit. Sigurado magtatanong ang mga kasama niya sa bahay—ang mga katulong at lalo na ang mga bodyguards niya. She bit the bottom of her lip and rein in her tears. She can’t help but pity herself. She looks like shit and she still hadn’t talk to Mr. Reyes. She felt like a

Pagod na umupo si Charlie sa executive chair sa opisina niya. She had been to three different banks just this morning, but all the same—they refused to consider her loan. Heck! They didn’t even gave her a chance to explain or hear out her plan on how will they pay the loan. They just rejected her outright like she’s some penniless start-up businesswoman who doesn’t have a penny on her name.She’s a Sandejas for goodness’ sake! She still owns the biggest shipping lines in the country! They’re experiencing a little setback now but still, she still has her name and money.How could they treat her like trash? Like she’s some kind of a leper who must be avoided at all times!She leaned on the back rest of the chair and closed her eyes, frustration, pity and worry drowning her all at once. Kanina pa niya gustong umiyak, pinipigilan lang niya. She knew if she’d allow herself to cry now, baka hindi na siya tumigil.The past two days had been too much. Idagdag pang ginigigil siya ni Gael sa n